BootsnAll Travel Community

Tomorrow is my travel day, and it occured to me - will I have any use for my checkbook in Europe, for the duration of my stay of 8 months?

Or, as I'm assuming, it will be considered a foreign check and people won't accept it because of the hassles?

If you have amex, you can use checks at their offices to get like 1000$ worth of travelers checks a month, with up to 200 worth in local cash.

But then you probably knew that already, huh?

j.

Rogerio. NO. You don't. Do not. Not necessary. No need. Not important. No necisitas. Forget it. don't bring it.

Or do. Hell, if you think you need it, then go ahead.

D

quote:

Originally posted by Rogerio:

Or, as I'm assuming, it will be considered a foreign check and people won't accept it because of the hassles?

Whatever bank you use in europe will probably accept it, provided you have an account with them, but they'll probably put a hold on the funds until the check clears.

If you're planning on using it to pay for things the way you do in the US, you'll only be able to write a cheque to someone if they want to be paid in US$. Writing "euros" or whatever on the check won't work.

AND people just don't use the type of checks Americans use in everyday life. At least not in the countries I've been in - there might be exceptions. If it helps you get funds like Jester said, well then ok. But otherwise it might just be hassle or possibly not be accepted. Seriously, I have not SEEN one American style check in the 5 years I've lived here.

People still write checks?

quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Chris D:
People still write checks?

Only when they're ahead of me in line.

There's no use for a check book, but it may be a good idea to have your account number and your bank's routing number. With that info you can transfer money to accounts anywhere in the world..like if you wanted for some reason to set up a European account.

quote:

Only when they're ahead of me in line.

Everytime I do see someone pulling out a checkbook, I wonder if they are between paychecks, and just writing a check, hoping that the money will get there before the check does. God knows I did that a few times when I was a slave for uncle Sam

I can't believe places still accept cheques. I know I gave up trying to use them years ago because nobody would take them.

Libby-

That's because they are so inefficient. And I still can't spell. But, it takes 3 seconds to swipe and enter pin number (at least for me, but I have fast fingers) and 5 minutes to write a check. I still say it's all people that are going to bounce a check!

Any check writers in here? Come on, fess up!

I mean, besides paying for credit cards, rent, etc.

Alright, who's still in the stone age and holding up the line at the grocery store!

True story: Just last year I was in Amarillo, TX at a Wendy's for lunch. At least 10 people in line ahead of me payed with checks. Un-freakin-believable. At Wendy's for gods sake.

braslvr,

I was at the local equivalent of 7-11 the other day, a woman bought a pop and a lottery ticket for like $1.69 with a check.

I don't know if I speak for everyone who has run a cash register, but I vastly prefer when people pay with credit or debit cards...

quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Chris D:
Everytime I do see someone pulling out a checkbook, I wonder if they are between paychecks, and just writing a check, hoping that the money will get there before the check does.

I'm not sure how widespread this is, but I work for a department store, and checks are now processed exactly the same as check card transactions. So, the few-day, interest-free loan that written checks used to provide is becoming a thing of the past.

Chris,
It's not only that they are a pain in the butt, but the amount of fraud merchants suffer with cheques is outragious. That's why most places don't accept chequest at all.